image problem [usurper]name changeborn C. Messius Quintus Decius ValerinusC. Messius Quintus Traianus DeciusDacian emphasis [a fudge]series of antoniniani w/ deified emperorsPhilip's name erased from inscriptions etc...origins of story of Philip's revolt...?one of first acts once in power = edict of universal sacrificea detailed text... that doesn't survivebut we have records of it in practice - libellirecord of act & statement of sacrifice, names officials witnessingsignaturesparallels census registration / tax collectiona persecution?OR attempt at self-legitimisation?response to unease of millenium?OR an extension Caracalla's edict to religious sphereconsistency of worshipnote vagueness of "ancestral gods"response to Empire's difficulties?Christians fell on wrong side of it by a baffling refusal to sacrificebut was it intended to target them?debated..absence of search / extensive arrestsempire-wide decree vs locally effectedjoining of local cult to imperial government on government's termsreversal ordinary practicepart of the increasing centralisation & bureacratic methodsDecius and the Changing EmpireI. DECIUS' SUCCESSIONI. DECIUS' SUCCESSIONII. "PERSECUTION"III. SOLDIER SUCCESSORSII. "PERSECUTION""After him another king will rule mighty flourishing Rome, skilled in war, emerging from the Dacians, of the number 300"

Orac. Siby. 13.81-83"It was to be expected that you, because of the goddess for whom your city is named, and because of your relationship and loyalty to the Romans, that you would have rejoiced at the establishment of our rule and made the appropriate prayers and sacrifices."Aphrodisias and Rome, n. 25.8-11Sources -

Historia Augusta Thirteenth Sibylline Oracle [Gordian - c.263]Byzantine sources:1. Zosimus, New History [6th C]2. John Zonaras, Epitome of the Histories [12th C]3. George, Selection of Chronography [8th-9th C]4. John Malalas, Chronicle of Antioch [6th C]all using Athenian historian Publius Herennius Dexippus...Sapor's trilingual inscriptions from Naqsh-i-Rustam"And Caesar lied again and did wrong with respect to Armenia. Then we attacked the Roman Empire and annihilated, at Barbalissos, a Roman army of 60,000, and Syria and the environs of Syria we burned, ruined and pillaged all. In this one campaign we conquered of the Roman Empire fortresses and towns: the town of Anatha with surroundings, Birtha of Arupan with surroundings, Birtha of asporakan, the town of Sura, Barbalissos, Hieropolis, Aleppo, Chalcis, Apamea, Rhephaiia, Zeugma, Urmia, Gindaros, Arzemaza, Seleucia, Antioch, Cyrrhe, another town of Seleucia, Alexandria, Nicopolis, Sinzara, Hama, Rastan, Dikhor, Doliche, Dura, Circestium, Germanicia, Batna, Khanar, and in Cappadocia the towns of Satala, Domana, Artangil, Suisa, Sinda, Phreata, a total of thirty-seven towns and their surrounding territory."

RDGS 4-9III. SUCCESSORS"Now for you wretched Syria, I have lately been piteously lamenting; a blow will befall you from the arrow-shooting men, terrible, which you never thought would come to you. The fugitive of Rome will come, waving a spear; crossing the Euphrates with many myriads, he will burn you, he will dispose all things evilly. Alas, Antioch, they will never call you a city when you have fallen under the spear in your folly; he will leave you entirely ruined and naked, houseless, uninhabited; anyone seeing you will suddenly break out weeping; and you will be the prize of war."

P.Ryl. 2.112a (20th June 250)"When another king of Rome will rule, then ruinous Ares with his bastard son will bring the disorderly races against the Romans, against the walls of Rome."Orac. Siby. 13.103-5"This long peace, however, was afterwards interrupted. Decius appeared in the world, an accursed wild beast, to afflict the Church. Who but a bad man would persecute religion?"

Lactantius, On the Death of the Persecutors 4.1X - Claudius, Pertinax, Gordians I, II & III, Uranius Lucius Iulius Aurelius (Sulpicius Severus) Uranius Antoninus 252-253the afterlife of the dynasty of EmesaSampsigeramus, High Priest of Elagabalus at Emesaproclaimed emperor after Shapur’s capture of AntiochBMC 24: bronze coin of Emesa, issued under Uranius Antoninus (AD 253), with legends in Greek. Obverse: bust of Uranius (AVTOK COVΛΠ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CE). Reverse: hexastyle temple with conical stone of Elagabal, ornamented with eagle; pediment ornamented with crescent (EMICΩΝ ΚΟΛΩΝ ), and dated according to Seleucid era (565)."The Scythians, taking advantage of the disorder which every where prevailed through the negligence of Philip, crossed the Tanais, and pillaged the countries in the vicinity of Thrace. But Decius, marching against them, was not only victorious in every battle, but recovered the spoils they had taken, and endeavoured to cut off their retreat to their own country, intending to destroy them all, to prevent their ever again, making a similar incursion. For this purpose he posted Gallus on the bank of the Tanais with a competent force, and led in person the remainder of his army against the enemy. This expedition exceeded to his utmost wish ; but Gallus, who was disposed to innovation, sent agents to the Barbarians, requesting their concurrence in a conspiracy against Decius. To this they gave a willing assent, and Gallus retained his post on the bank of the Tanais, but the Barbarians divided themselves into three battalions, the first of which posted itself behind a marsh. Decius having destroyed a considerable number of the first battalion, the second advanced, which he likewise defeated, and discovered part of the third, which lay near the marsh. Gallus sent intelligence to him, that he might march against them across the fen. Proceeding therefore incautiously in an unknown place, he and his army became entangled in the mire, and under that disadvantage were so assailed by the missiles of the Barbarians, that not one of them escaped with life. Thus ended the life of the excellent emperor Decius."Zosimus, New History"They were killed at Interamna, having completed not even two years' rule; they achieved nothing notable whatsoever."Eutropius 9.4"...most obscurely born, Aemilian ruled obscurely..."

Eutropius 9.6"The proconsul said: "Sacrifice."[Pionius] replied: "No, for I must pray to (the) god."He said: "We worship all gods and heaven and all gods who are in heaven. I suppose you hearken to the air? Sacrifice to it."He replied: "I do not hearken to the air but to the one that made the air and heaven and everything in them."The proconsul said: "Tell me who made them?"He answered: "It is not possible to say."The proconsul said: "Obviously it was (the) gods, the very Zeus who is in heaven. For he is king of all the gods."The Acts of Pionius 19"But a certain Nemesion, who also was an Egyptian, was accused as an associate of robbers; but when he had cleared himself before the centurion of this charge most foreign to the truth, he was informed against as a Christian, and taken in bonds before the governor."